Steven Boccone: In the helm of a Finance Officer

    The world of Investment Banking does not revolve on money alone. A lot of factors are involved in making one Investment Bank stable and at the same time influential enough to make a difference. Different factors such as the economy, number of clients, business partners and excellently timed and thought out research affect the operations of investment banking making these the deciding factors whether a certain investment bank can attain stability and permanence. On the other hand, even if all the mentioned factors are present, the success of an Investment Bank would still depend on the people who fuel its operations. To name one, the Finance Officer of the bank plays one important role in making sure that the Investment bank’s operations run smoothly. The task may sound easy, but managing an Investment bank and ensuring that everything goes well is not exactly stress-free, especially if it means losing the clients’ money and trust.

Being the Finance Officer does not mean simply overseeing if everything is going as planned. The task of one involves assisting when it comes to performing tasks that are needed in order to achieve the bank’s mission, making sure that all staff is aware of financial management matters, working with CEO when it comes to visualizing the plans for the stakeholders, being atop of regulatory requirements, ensuring that new opportunities will be developed and delivery of those to clients. Steven Boccone, a Financial Officer for Standard Chartered Securities, was hired to fill in this position at an age of 25. Under Steve Boccone’s helm, Standard Chartered Securities remained to be one of the world’s longstanding banks. 

This shows that to be a Financial Officer need not have a lot of experience when it comes to banking. One must be passionate and motivated to get the job done and make things run smoothly. To be a Finance Officer requires the courage to step forward and take responsibility for making all operations go as planned. The CEO should definitely choose wisely as this position needs someone who can look into the smallest details and see the bigger picture as well in the form of the bank’s future. When a person with courage is assigned to this task, surely the economy, depositors, and business partners will know they have made the right choice.



Image via Ehow.com

Steve Boccone’s management traits and skills

     Managing people requires hardwork  and only a few seem to have the right combination of talent and skills to lead other men towards a common goal. History is replete with the remarkable achievements of great leaders but at closer look, these men have one thing in common: great leadership and management skills.

The management skills of Steven Boccone was honed by years of experience in handling people. As he took up various positions in the corporate world, he was able to understand how people work –their common habits, their frame of mind. He also became familiar with the way they behave in the workplace. 

Definitely, an effective manager knows where a company is heading but it is equally important to know about the people that make up a team as they determine the success or failure of a goal. A good manager should therefore be able to inspire and motivate people to achieve their goals. And Steven Boccone can do just that.

A good manager often has six essential skills  that enables him to manage people and projects effectively. 

•  Communicates clearly – A good manager should be able to communicate ideas and facts clearly as this is crucial in the workplace where successful results of a project lies on the flow of accurate information. It must be remembered that clear communication always defines good management.
• Assertive of ideas – Another trait fundmental to managers is the ability to express ideas, thoughts and emotions in a straightforward, honest way while being tactful and respectful of other people.
• Connects with people – Though business is all about results, it involves interaction with people and the exhange between them is an essential component of a successful relationship in the workplace. A good manager has the ability to connect with people to build rapport and trust.
• Motivates people – A good manager knows what motivates his people and responds according to this knowledge. He must be able to match the employees’ motivations and strengths with the tasks and their rewards or compensation. Given the complexity of the organization and the personality of each individual, this is something that a manager should master.
• Integrity – A manager with integrity honors his words and the employees often trust him and  know that they can count on him. Transparency in action, constructive attitude and performance often results from having a manager with integrity.
• Decision maker – A manager’s task involves creating strategies, assigning tasks, supervising the execution and provide feedback. In all these activities, good decision-making skill is a crucial element and a good manager must have this most important skill when needed.

What economists like Steven Boccone do

     Unlike other professionals such as doctors, engineers, teachers and politicians, little do people know what an economist, like Steven Boccone, really does.  Although we know something of what economics is, there is very scant knowledge of how an economist works and what he is paid for.

To put it simply, economists typically study the ways how society uses resources such as land, labor, machinery, and raw materials to produce goods and services. Their tasks often include analyzing the cost and benefits of distributing and consuming products and services. To do this they collect data, conduct research, monitor trends and formulate or develop forecasts. 

As a professional economist, Steven Boccone also known to friends as Steve, provides timely and incisive analysis of economic trends in the US and other economies, which he posts in his blog. He also worked as financial consultant for various firms worldwide.

Aside from this, economists also predict, analyze and interpret trends in the economy. They help various agencies, including the government, to use money and resources efficiently. But they only specialize in certain areas they are interested in. To do this, they conduct surveys and interpret data that determines the rise and fall in the economy. 

Economics is a broad field and an economist often has to choose a specific area to indulge in. Microeconomists are often concerned with small and individual businesses while macroeconomists  predict economic developments on a large scale which include job loss, inflation and growth in the economy. World economists, on the other hand, study markets overseas and the exchange rates.

The data that economists collect from surveys are used to create mathematical equations that help them predict trends. These figures are also used to study business cycles and to chart patterns in the changes. This information is important in warning businesses of decline in the economy. 

The knowledge and information that economists derive from their studies are applied in various areas, not only in money and finances. This is widely applied in health, education, and agriculture, to name a few. It is also seen as a factor in law-making and in the formulation of critical government policies.  

An economist’s work is best applied in taxes which have great impact on people and industries, including social security adjustments that could affect the economy of a country. 

Economists like Steve Boccone provide not only essential information on how labor and resources are spent but also show its application on society that are critical to human existence.

Steven Boccone, Wife Attend Bellevue Hotel Wine Tasting Event

     Ah, what Christmas celebration would be complete without some fine spirits to brighten and lighten up everyone’s mood in such a festive occasion? There is none, for sure!

Be it for a wine connoisseur or just plain folks trying to imbibe the joyful atmosphere of Christmas, fine wines would always be part and parcel of the Yuletide season. The effect of such fine wines is known to induce a sense of merry-making to anyone who partakes of them. For this very reason, almost every Christmas celebration requires the presence of fine spirits to let guests fully enjoy the revelry.

And Steven Boccone knows this too well.

     That’s exactly the reason why he and his lovely wife, Karen Adriano Boccone, come to wine tasting events and take a sip of some the world’s best wines. Such occasions are also a perfect time to meet people including wine experts who find comfort and satisfaction in fine wines and great food.

Last December 7, 2008, Steven Boccone and Karen went to a wine tasting event held at the majestic grand lobby of the posh Bellevue Hotel down south. The event was spearheaded by Bellevue’s General Manager Patrick Chan, with Carlo Javier of the Philippine Wine Merchants. Attendees included elite members of The Bellevue Wine Society.

Karen and Steve Boccone with Baby Antonio during the wine tasting occasion featuring Montes Classic series wines, sumptuous canapés and hors d’oeuvres at the Bellevue Hotel last December 7, 2008

At the event, Steven, Karen, and other VIP guests were treated to a dizzying array of Montes Classic series wines, as well as some mouth-watering canapés and hors d’oeuvres prepared especially for the event by resident chef Nicholas Anderson. The guests absolutely loved the irresistible fusion of fine spirits and sumptuous food!

Among the wines served included Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and more. Guests each had the chance of experiencing the unmistakably excellent tastes of the said wines and surely, each of them went home feeling the joyful atmosphere of the season.

If the laughter that filled the entire event venue is any indication, then it’s safe to say that the event was a huge success.

     Steven Boccone and wife Karen opined that such events give them the opportunity, not only to have a glass or two of excellent-tasting spirits, but also to show their support to such a worthy endeavor. The couple is planning to attend similar events in the future.

Steven Boccone at the re-launch of Sofitel’s Beauty and Wellness outlets

    For people who care about their health and appearance, the re-launch of Sofitel’s beauty and wellness outlets – namely Le Spa, So Fit, the Zen Institute, and Philippe Tordjman Le Salon - is welcome news. And for Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila Hotel, the occasion is a cause for celebration as they treated guests and clients to a night of cocktails and exclusive spa treatments.

Steven Boccone and his lovely wife Karen Adriano Boccone –along with some of Manila’s beautiful people, the big wigs, and other VIPs - attended the re-launch of the outlets. It was a success as the re-launching was packed with people.

    Sofitel took advantage of the occasion to introduce an exclusive, limited edition card that clients can use for treatments at Le Spa. They also offered additional privileges which include a transferable birthday voucher at Le Spa, a night’s stay at the hotel with breakfast for two, a 30-percent hotel discount on food and recreational facilities, access to the pool and So Fit, pool passes for cardholder’s guests, parking concessions, complimentary facial spa, and Ultralipo session at The Zen Institute, plus complimentary haircut and hair color at Philippe Tordjman Le Salon, among others.

    For people who wanted to maintain their good physique, it was more than what they can wish for, as Le Spa offered the exclusive Truffle Treat package which includes a refreshing foot ritual, a pure truffle body scrub, and a truffle facial, capped off with a glass of champagne and Sofitel's famous pralines. They also offered different waxing services for legs, underarms, bikini line and including the Brazilian wax with Le Spa's So Smooth treat.

Le Spa has its own line of excellent signature massage treatment for relaxation which include Hypnotic Queenstown, Marrakech Sweetness, Brazil Colours , Kerala's Smile, Siam Energy, Polynesian Wave, and Maurician Romance.

    For Steven Boccone and wife Karen who both lead healthy lifestyles, Sofitel’s famous beauty and wellness outlets are an ideal place for relaxation and beauty treatment.  To anyone who values health, their services are a sure way to refresh, renew and rejuvenate one’s mind, body and spirit. As always, investing in fitness and healthy is truly a wise decision.

Steven Boccone and the Philippine Jewelry Industry

Jewelry design in the Philippines dates back to early 16^th century.  In fact, historical records show that early Filipinos made bracelets, pendants, and beads during that era…. see www.ayalamuseum.org .  Today, Philippine jewelry industry continues with its tradition, showcasing the unique and brilliant artistry of new designers.

The design of Philippine jewelry pieces came from varied influences and the materials used by Filipino designers are often a mixture of metals, stones, gems, and other indigenous materials that can be found abundantly in the country’s rich reserve of natural resources.

However, there is no official data on the local jewelry industry and the market size. Much of the available jewelry in the market is either locally-made or imported from abroad. In 1994, De Beers placed the Philippine diamond market at $62 million.

An avid supporter of Filipino arts and an art connoisseur himself, Steven Boccone gets the opportunity to see events showcasing the Filipino artist such as the one featuring the country’s premier jewelry design studio Hoseki.

Hoseki, which means jewels in Japanese, is one of the country’s most exclusive, high-end jewelry design house and its brand and designs are well known worldwide. The studio store is owned by renowned Filipino jewelry designer Facio, who has joined competitions for jewelry design and it has won 26 awards to date.

Faico is also the only Filipino designer chosen in the prestigious 17 World’s Best Designers alongside Tiffany, Henry Dunay and other international design luminaries chosen by Paspaley’s White Magic World Touring Exhibition.

Steven Boccone, together with friends, attended one of the exclusive Hoseki exhibits during the launching of a Hoseki store at the Shangrila Hotel in Makati. During the exhibit, he was able to see for himself the alluring jewelry pieces that were masterfully crafted by Faico out of materials such as precious South Sea pearls, stones, gems and other native materials.

As a businessman and an admirer of the arts, he appreciates both the value and beauty of a fine set of jewelry. He knows that creating a good piece of jewelry takes more than just getting all the precious materials but in having an idea that can be translated into a unique art piece.  

Steven Boccone joins charity campaign for cancer victims

You may feel uneasy at first, being surrounded by all those gorgeous and well-dressed women but as the night progresses, you will soon realize the purpose of having them all in one room, under one roof.

Steven Boccone, together with wife Karen, attended an event honoring the Filipina in the 2008 Best Dressed Women of the Philippines held at Rizal Ballroom of the Shangri-La Hotel in Makati. It was not simply a gathering of the best dressed and the most sophisticated women in Philippine society but it was also an occasion dedicated to charity, supported by big names in business and industry.

Steven and Karen Boccone with Ralph and Rosebud Wainer, Frank and Annabelle Adriano, Michelle and Stanley Perez during a charity event honoring 2008 Best Dressed Women of the Philippines

It was in fact not all glitter and glamour as the event was organized by the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) http://philcancer.org.ph/, led by honorary chairperson Imelda Ongsiako Cojuangco, chairman consul Helen Ong, co-chairman Gerry Contreras and committee members that included consul Fortune Ledesma, Asia’s fashion czar Pitoy Moreno, Jayelles president Roselle Rebano and Johnny Litton. It was sponsored by Landmark, Cats Motors, Clero Medical Clinic and Lifestyle Asia.

Already on its fifth year in 2008, this annual event is the culmination of a year-long search for the best dressed Filipina. But surely many of those who attended the event knew the nobler purpose of the gathering, which is to help raise awareness for cancer. 

On the lighter side however it is an annual recognition of the women who epitomizes the modern Filipina and no one knows this more fully than Steven Boccone, who has a beautiful Filipina wife, Karen Adriano Boccone .

It was a successful night as the event has undoubtedly raised millions for the benefit of the Philippine Cancer Society. With the generosity of donors and benefactors, like Steven Boccone, the organization can sustain yet another year in its mission.

The battle against cancer is a fight for life and those who support this advocacy know too well how it is to become part of this lofty endeavor. The contributions that each one makes to charitable events like this can surely make a long way towards attaining the goals of the organization. And this has surely help people see things in deeper perspective, beyond the glitz and glamour of the occasion.